6-keto pregnenes



Albert Bowers and OttoHalpern, Mexico City, Mexico, v

and Y represents hydrogen, [i-hydroxy or a keto group.

Patented Dec. 1, 1964 UnitedStates Patent ICC 3,159,521

i v by alkaline treatment of the lot-brorno-derivative and reflux With a dehydrohalogenating agent.

By the above method there are obtained 6-keto-A s C P P l9 nor-pregnatrienes in accordance with the following :fggggg; g s mama i m? a 5 Sequence of reactions: No Drawing. Filed. Aug. 14, 1963, Ser. No. $491,955 Y Claims priority, application Mexico, May 7, 1963, 72,282

17 Claims. (Cl. 263-23955) 3,159,621 I c s-nnro PREGNENES The present invention relates to certain novel cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene derivatives and to a method for the production thereof. I i

More particularly, the present invention relates to the method for making the novel 3-desoxy-6-keto-A 19-nor-pregnatriene derivatives represented by the following formulas: (IV) wherein A represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical and B represents a lower alkyl, aryl or aralkyl radical 40 containing up to eight carbon atoms; R represents hydrogen or an acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms The acyl and acyloxy groups above referred to are 7 derived from hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing less than 12 carbon atoms which may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or cyclic-aliphatic chain, aromatic and may be substituted by functional In the preceding formulas R and R 'have the same groups such as hydroxy, alkoxy containing up to 5 carbon meaning as heretofore indicated.

atoms, acyloxy containing up to 12 carbonv atoms, nitro, ,In practicing the process outlined above, the starting amino or halogen. Typical ester groups are the acetate, compounclsl such as the acetate of A -19-nor-pregnenpropionateenanthate, benzo'ate,trimethylacetate, t-butyl- 3fl-ol-6,20-dion'e the diacetate of A -1-9-nor-pregneneacetate, phen oxyacetate, 'cyclopentylpropionate, amino I 3,8,l7u-diol-6,20-dione', thel6-methyljderivatives thereof acetate, and fi-chloropropionate. or the acetate of 16a,17e;isopropylidenedioxy-A -19- The compounds, object'of the present invention, are nor-pregnen-"qfi-0lP6,20-dione are obtained by oxidation estrogenic type hormones showing anti-androgenic activity 7 of the A5-1'9-hydroXy pregnenes with chrornic acid in and relatively low feminizing'e'ffect; they are specially I pyridine, as described in o'urcopending application Serial' useful in fertility control and disorders in the female. No; 293,891, filed July 9, 1 963. g

In our copending US. application Serial No. 302,008 By, reaction of the A -6 keto-19-nor-pregnenes (I) filed of even date, there is described ageneral method .60 with approximatelyl rnolar equivalent of 'N- bromosuca @for preparing 6 -keto-A -estratrienesstartingfrom 6 I cinimide in carbon tetrachloride solution, at reflux'tem- '1 keto-A' -lgsnor steroids which comprises converting V I I I p'e'rature'and for a period of time in "the order; of 30, theselast mentionedcompoundsinto the lot-bromo, de'ri-. .-'rninutes to 4-hours, there are obtained the corresponding vatives by directQreaction with N-bromosuccinirnide in .lot-bromo-derivatives (11) r v a 7 carbon tetrachloride'orthrongh the enol acetate,' fo'llo wed' 65, Alkaline treatment of the la-brQmO-MK QG-keto19 AcO fonic acid in acetone, to produce also A -19-norpregnatriene-6,20-dione, 13 -19-nor-pregnatrien-l7aol-6,20-dione and the 16-substituted derivatives thereof (III; R=H, OH).

The 17a-acyloxy compounds are obtained by esterification of A -l9-nor-pregnatrien-17a-ol-6,20-dione and its 16-methyl derivatives, by reaction with carboxylic acid anhydrides of less than 12 carbon atoms in benzene solution and in the presence of ,p-toluenesulfonic acid (III; R=acyloxy).

The compounds of the present invention possessing the dihydroxy acetone side chain as well as an oxygenated function at C-llare obtained by the method illustrated by the following sequence of reactions:

are converted into the respective enolacetates (V) by conventional methods, such as for example by refluxing with acetic anhydride or isopropenylacetate in the presence of p-toluenes'ulfonic acid;-

By reaction of the 3,6-diacetoxy 20-ethylenedioxy or 3,6,17-triacetoxy 20 eth'ylenedioxy compounds with an N- bromoamide or N-bromoimide, in the presence of sodium acetate and using an inert solvent; at low'temperature there are obtained the 1a-bromo-6-keto-20-ethylenedioxy- A -19-nor-pre gnenes (VI) which upon alkaline treatmentfollowed by reaction with; a dehydrohalogenating agent, as indicated hereinbefore in'detail, give rise to the 2O-ethylenedioxy-6-keto-A -19-nor-pregnatrienes.

The ketal group is then hydrolyzed under acidic conditions, such as for example by reaction with p-toluene'sul- In the preceding formulas R has the meaning as heretofore indicated; R represents hydrogen, ot-methyl, 5- methyl or ot-acyloxyyR represents hydrogen, a-hydroxy, a-methyl or ,B-rnethyl and Y represents hydrogen or a keto group.

The starting material for the process illustrated above are the acetate of l7,20;20,21bismethylenedioxy-A 19-nor-pregnen-3fi-ol-6-one, the acetate of 17,20;20,2l-

bismethylenedioxy A 19-nor-pregnen-313-ol-6Jl-dione and the 16-methyl or 16-acyloxy derivatives thereof (VII),

By bromination of these cornpounds with 1.1 molar equivalents of N-bromosuccinimide or by vforming the enol-acetate at C-6 prior to the bromination, as indicatedhereinbefore in detail, there are obtained the IOL-bI'OmO' pregnen- 19-01.

compounds (VIII), which upon alkaline treatment followed by reaction with a dehydrohalogenating agent give rise to the respective A -G-keto-l9-nor-pregnat1ienes (IX).

Upon hydrolysis of the bismethylenedioxy groupby following conventional methods, preferably by heating with 60% formic acid, the dihydroxy-acetone side chain is regenerated, thus yielding A -19-nor-pregnatriene- 170:,21 diol 6,20 dione, A -l9-nor-pregnatriene- 17u,21-diol-6,11,20-trione and its l6-methyl or l6u-hydroxy substituted derivatives (X; R =H).

Microbiological incubation of the compounds lacking oxygenation at -11 (X; Y =H, R =H), such as for example with cultures of Carvularia lumita, Cunninghamella bainieri, Cunninghamclla blakesleeans or incubation with adrenal glands, give rise to A -l9-nor-pregnatriene-l1B,17a,21-triol-6,20-dione or the l6-substituted derivatives thereof (XI; R zH).

The compounds X and XI (R =H) may be converted into the 21-monoesters or 16,21-diesters by reaction with acid anhydrides or chlorides of less than 12 carbon atoms in pyridine solution (X and XI; R =acyl).

Oxidation of the esters of the llfi-hydroxylated compounds with chromic acid in aqueous acetic acid or 8 N chromic acid in acetone solution produce also the esters of A -l9-nor-pregnatriene-170:,2l-di01-6, 1 1,20-trione as well as the 16-substituted derivatives.

By reaction of 'A -l9-nor-pregnatriene-16oa,17a,

21-triol-6,2G-di0ne or the ll-o-xygenated derivatives with aldehydes or lretones in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as perchlor-ic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid, there are obtained the corresponding 16a,17u-keta1s or cyclic.

acetals.

In order to'obtain A -19-nor-pregnatrien-2l-ol-6, 20-dione, its ll-oxygenated and/ or l-rnethyl substituted derivatives, there is reacted 11 -19-nor-pregnatriene- 6,20-dione and/or the 16-methyl substituted derivatives thereof with iodine in the presence of calcium oxide and in mixture of tetrahydrofuran-methanol to produce the corresponding 21-iodo-derivatives, which are then reacted with potassium acetate in acetone solution, preferably at reflux temperature, to produce the acetate of A fie(1o)-19-nor-pregnatrien 21-ol-6,20-dione and its 16- methyl derivatives.

Conventional saponification of these compounds adord the respective free compounds, which upon incubation with an oxygenating microorganism, as indicated hereinbefore, give rise to the respective llfi-hydroxylated derivatives, i.e., A -19-nor-pregnatriene-11,8,21-diol-6,20- dione, 16oz methyl A -19-nor-pregnatriene-11,6,21- diol-6,20- dione and 16,8-methyl-A -l9-nor-pregnatri ene-l1B,21-diol-6,20-dione. From the llfi-hydroxylated compounds there may be obtained the corresponding 11- keto derivatives, by oxidation with chromic acid after previous esterification of the hydroxyl group at 0-21.

The following examples serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention:

.action mixture was cooled, diluted with water, extracted with ethyl acetateand the organic extract was washed to neutral, dried and evaporated todr'yness. Crystallization from acetone hexane gave 3-acetoxy-20 -ethylenedioxy A A solution of of pyridine was added to a mixture of 5 g. of chromium trioxide in, 60 cc. of pyridine. The reaction mixture'was 5 g. of the foregoing" compound in 60 cc.

acetone-hexane produced 3fi-acetoxy-20-ethylenedioxy-A -l9-nor-pregnen-6-one.

In the same manner, starting from the 3-monoacetate of 16oc-methyl-A -pregnene-3{3,19-diol-20-one and the 3,17- diacetate of A -pregnene-3fl,17a,19-triol-20-one there were obtained as final products 16m-methyl-3fi-acetoxy-ZO-ethylenedioxy A l9-nor-pregnen-6-one and 35,17oz-diacetoxy-2O-ethylenedioxy-A i-19-nor-pregnen-6-one.

PREPARATION 2 To a solution of 5 g. of l6 x-rnethyl-A -19-nor- ,pregnene-3B,17a,21-triol-6,20-dione in 200 cc. of chloro- 7 room temperature for 4 hours, poured into water and the formed precipitate collected by filtratiom There was thus obtained the acetate of t-In6thYl-17,20;20,21-bl$- methylenedioxy-A l9-nor-pregnen-3 fl-ol-G-one.

In the same manner, 16p3-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnene-3B,17m,21 triol 6,20-dione and A -19-nor-pregnene-3 ,8,16a,17 a,2l-tetr0l 6,20 dione produced as final products the acetate of l6fl-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-A -l9-n0r-pregnen-3fl-ol-o-one and the diacetate of 17,2O;20,21bismethylenedioxy-A -19-norpregnen-3/3,l6a-diol-6-one.

Example I I V n Acetate of IGa-methyLA -N- Acetate of 16 11,17 e-isopropylidenedtoxy-M -19-nor-pregncn-3fl- Col-6,20-dione.

Diacetate 0M -19-nor-pregnene- 3,8,17 a-dio1-6,20-dione.

Acetate of l7,20;20,21-bismethylenediox'y-A -19-n0r-pregnen- 3fl-ol-6-one.

Acetate er i7,20;20,2l-bisrnethylenedioxy-A -19-nor-pregnenuor-pregnen35-oh6, 20-dione.

Diacetate of 16a-n1ethylA -19- nOr-pregnene-SB, 17 u.-diOl-6-2D-dione. 1 Acetate of 16ii-rnethy1-17, 20;20, 21-

bismethylene-dioxy m -19-norpregnen-35-ol-5-one.

Diac-et'ate of 17, 21x20, 21-bismethyl- 35, 16 a-dlOl S-onei.

Acetate of 1 ct-bromo-l7,20;20,21-

bismethy1enedioxy-A -19-110rpregnen-iiB-ol-S-one.

Acetate of l a-bromo-17,20 ';20,21-

b1ismsthylenedioxy-A -19-norpregnen-3B-o1-6,11dione.

Acetate of l a-bromo-lefi-methyl- A -19-nor-pregnen 3,8-01-6, 20-

' dione. s

Diane-tats of 1 m-bromo-lfi a-meth'yl- A -19-nor-pregnene-3B,l7 tid i x 01-6, ZO-dione.

l A state of 1 a-bromo-16a-methy1-17,

I 20;20,21-bis-methylensdioxyn? -19-nor-pregnen-3B-ol-6-one. Diac'etate of la-bI'0II10-17,20;20, 21-

iA solution ofi'3 g;

Example 19-nor-pregnen-3fl-ol-6,20-dione in 150 cc. of methanol was refluxed for 1 hour with 1 g. of potassium hydroxide dissolved in cc. of water. It was cooled, diluted with water, the formed precipitate was filtered off and dried under vacuo.

The foregoing total product dissolved in cc. of cold dimethylformamide was added to a boiling suspension of 4 g. of finely divided calcium carbonate in 10 cc. of dimethylformamide. The mixture was refluxed for minutes further, cooled and filtered. The filtrate was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water; dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The residue was crystallized from acetone-hexane to give A -19-nor-pregnatriene-6,20-dione.

Example III A mixture of 5 g. of 3-acetoxy-20-ethylenedioxy-A 19-nor-pregnen-6-one, cc. of acetic anhydride and 500 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid was heated at reflux temperature with slow distillation, for 6 hours. It was then poured into ice water and the mixture stirred for 30 minutes to hydrolize the excess anhydride. It was extracted with methylene-chloride and the extract was washed with sodium carbonate solution and water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness, to produce 3,6-diacetoxy-20-ethylenedioxy-A -l9-nor-pregnadiene.

To a mixture of 1 g. of the foregoing crude product, 50 cc. of acetone and 10 drops of pyridine there was added 0.7 g. of sodium acetate dissolved in 7 cc. of water. The mixture was cooled to 0 C. and 450 mg. of N- bromoacetamide (1.1 equivalents) suspended in 5.7 cc. of

acetic acid were added; the mixture was stirred a 0 C.

for 1 hour further, poured into ice water and the formed precipitate was filtered off. There was thus obtained the acetate of 1a-bromo-20-ethylenedioxy-A 9-nor-pregnen-3fi-ol-6-one.

The brominated product was then submitted to the reactions described in the preceding example, i.e., treatment with potassium hydroxide in methanol followed by reaction with calcium carbonate in dimethylformamide.

The total dehydrobromination product was dissolved in 150 cc. of acetone, there were added 500 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and the reaction mixture was kept at room temperature overnight, poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was Washed with water, 5% aqueous sodium carbonate solution and water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue was crystallized from acetone-ether to afford N 19-nor-pregnatriene-6,ZO-dione, identical to that obtained in the preceding example.

In the same manner, starting from 16a-methyl-3- acetoxy-20-ethylenedioxy-A -19-nor-pregnen-6-one and 3,17 diacetoxy-ZO-ethylenedioxy-A -19-nor-pregnen- 6-one, there were obtained as final products 16a-methyl- A -19-nor-pregnatriene-6,20-dione and A -19- nor-pregnatrien-17 oz-Ol-6,20-dl0l1.

Example IV In the method of Example II dimethylformamide was substituted by dimethylacetamide to produce also A 19-nor-preghatriene-6,ZO-dione in similar yield.

Example V A solution of 2 g. of the acetate of loc-brOInO-lfiozmethyl-A -19-nor-pregnen-3fi-ol-6,20-dione in 190 cc The foregoing total product was heated at reflux temperature, for 30 minutes, with 10 cc. of y-collidine under an atmosphere of nitrogen; the solution was cooled, the precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was diluted with ether, washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dried and evaporated to dryness. The residue was crystallized from ether-hexane thus producing 16a-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnatriene- 6,20-dione. I

In the same manner, the acetate of 1a-bromo-16u,17aisopropylidenedioxy-A 19-nor-pregnen 3,8 ol 6,20- dione and the acetate of Ia-bromo-l6fi-methyl-A -l9- nor-pregnen-3{3-cl-6,2G-dione gave as final products 16a,- 17a-isopropylidenedioxy-A l9 nor-pregnatriene- 6,20-dione and 16fi-methyl-A -l9 nor pregnatriene6,20-dione respectively.

Example Vl I II Diaeetate of 1 a-bromo-A -19- nor-preg11ene-3/8,17 a-diol-6,20- dionc.

Acetate 011 e-brom0-17,20; 20,21- bismet'nylene(lioxy-A -19- nor-pregnen-3B-ol-6,ll-dione.

Diacetate of lfie-methyl-l a-bIOIIlD- A -19-nor-prcgnene-3/3,17 diol-6,20-dione.

A -19-nor-prcgnetricn-17 a.-

ol-6,20-dione.

17,20; 20,21-bismethylcnedioxy- A -19-nor-pregnatrien-6- one.

17,20; 20,21-bismetl1ylcncdioxy- A RM -l9-nor-prcgnatricne- 6,1l-dione.

1G u-methyl-17,20; 20,21-bismcthylcncdioxy-A -19-norpregnatrien-G-one.

l6 a-mcthyl-A B -19-norpregnatrien-17 a-0l-6,20-dione.

17,20; 20,2l-bismcthylencdioxy- A (l0) -1 9-nor-pregnatricn-l6 a.- ol-G-one.

Example VII A mixture of 1.5 g. of the acetate of 16a-methyll7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-A -19 nor pregnen- 3,8-ol-6-one, 20 cc. of isopropenyl acetate and 60 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid was heated at reflux temperature with slow distillation for 8 hours and then cooled. The resulting solution was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, to give 3,6-diacetoxy 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy-l6oc-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnadiene.

The foregoing compound was treated with 1.1 equivalents of N-bromoacetamide in acetone solution, by following the method described in Example III, to produce the acetate or" 1a-bromo-16a-methyl-l7,20;20,2l-bismethylenedi0xy-A -19-nor-pregnen-3fi-ol-6-one.

The preceding compound was treated with potassium hydroxide in methanol and then with calcium carbonate in dimethyl acetamide, in accordance with the method described in Examples 11 and IV, to produce l6a-methyl- 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy A 19 nor-pregnatrien-o-one identical to that obtained in the preceding example.

A mixture of l g. of this compound and 20 cc. of 60% formic acid was heated on the steam bath for 1 hour, cooled, diluted with water and the formed precipitate collected by filtration, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus producing 16u-methyl- A -19-nor-pregnatriene-17a,21 diol 6,20 dione.

In the same manner, starting from the acetate of methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy A 19 norpregnen-3fi-ol-6-one there was obtained as final product 16fl-n1ethyl-A -l9 nor pregnatriene 170:,21-di0l- 6,20-dione.

Example VIII To a stirred solution of 1 g. of 3,6-diacetoxy IGa-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-A 19 nor pregnadiene in 75 cc. of carbon tetrachloride and 75 cc. of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran there were added 4 g;- of anhydrous sodium acetate and 400 mg. of bromine in 5 cc. of carbon tetrachloride, and the mixture was stirred for 20 minutes further. An excess of sodium bisulfite solution was then added, the organic layer was separated and washed several times with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure; Crystallization of the residue from acetoneether gave the acetate of la brorno 164x methyll7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l9-nor-pregnen 3 B 01-6- one, identical to that obtained in Example 1.

Example IX By following the method described in Example VII,

the compounds below mentioned (I) were hydrolyzed with 60% formic acid to give'the corresponding products D 17,20; 20,21-bismethylenedioxy- A -l9-nor-pregnatrien-6- one.

17,20; 20,2l-bismethy1enedioxy- A (to) -19-nor-pregnatriene- 6,11-dione.

17,20; 20,2l-bismethylenedioxy- A -19-n0r-pregnatrien- 16 a-ol-S-one.

A J (10) -19-nor-pregnatrione- 17 a,21-dil-6,11,20-trione.

A IQ-n r-pregnatriene 16 1,17 zi-triol-azo-nione.

Example X A strain of Curvularia lunata ATCC 13935 was grown in a Sabourini-glucose-agar medium (Difco). The

" growth obtained after incubating for a week at 25 C.

was suspended in 5 cc. of sterile water. This suspension was divided in 5 portions of 1 cc. each which were employed for inoculating 5 Erlenmeyer flasks of 250 cc. capacity containing each 50 cc. of a culture medium of the following composition:

Distilled water to complete 1 It.

The cultures were incubated under rotatory stirring for 72 hours at 25 C. The growth was homogenized for I'minute in a Waring Blendor; 2 cc. portions of the supsension thus obtained were employed for inoculating approximately 109 Erlenmeyer flasks containing the same medium described above. The mixtures were incubated for 24 hours under rotary stirringat 25 C. and 280 r.p.m.; to each flask there was added 0.5 cc. of a solution of 6.5 g. of A -19-nor-pregnatriene-17a,2l diol--' 1 6,20-di0ne in 50 cc. of 95% ethanol and the incubation dryness under reduced pressure.

lit to stand at room temperature overnight, poured into water and the formed precipitate collected by filtration. There was thus obtained the 2l-acetate of A -19-norpregnatriene-l 1B, l7a,21-tr-iol-6,20-dione.

Example X1 A solution of l g. of the ZI-acetate of l6oc-methyl- A l9-nor-pregnatr-iene-llfi,i7a,2l-triol-6,20-dione in 20 cc. of acetone was cooled to 0 C. and treated under an atmosphere of nitrogen and with stirring, with a solution of 8 N chromic acid (prepared by mixing 26 g. of chromium trioxide with 23 cc. of concentrated sulfuric acid and diluting with Water to c'c.), until the color of the reagent persisted in the mixture. It was stirred for 5 minutes further at 0-5 C. and diluted with water. The precipitate was collected, washed with water and dried under vacuum, thus affording the ZI-acetate of methyl-A ll-nor-pregnatriene-l7tx,2l-di0l-6,l1,20- trione.

Example XIII To a solution of 1 g. of A -l9-nor pregnatriene 1I 6,l6a,17a,2l-tetrol-6,20-dione in 50 cc. of acetone there were added 20 drops of 72% perchloric acid. After 1 hour at room temperature 20 drops of pyridine were added and the resulting solution was evaporated to 30 cc. of water were added to the residue and it was then extracted several times with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed to neutrality'with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The residue upon trituration with methanol gave 16a,17a-isopropylidenedioxy-A -19- nor-pregnatriene -l 1,8,2 l-diol-6,20-dione. Upon esterification of the preceding compound with acetic, propionic and undecenoic anhydrides, in accordanoewith the method described in Example X, there were obtained the ill-acetate, 2l-propionate and 21-undecenoate of 16a,17a-isopropylidenedioxy-A m -19- norpreg'natriene-l lfi,21-diol-6,20-dione.

Example XIV Asolution of 500 mg. of A ?l9-nor-pregnatriene- 16a,17a,2l-triol 6,20-dione in 20 cc. of chloroform was crystallized from acetone-ether, thus yielding the 16:1,1711- acetaldehyde acetal of A -l9-nor-pregnatricnfii-l6 i:

was continued under the same conditions for '48 hours.

The contents of the flasks were combined and extracted with four portions of methylene chloride. "The combined extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and con- 7 ceutrated at low temperature to a volume of 25 cc. This solution was adsorbed on- 4 g. of 1 silica gel and elutedmethylene chloride-ether (92.1) to produce M 19-nor pregnatriene-11p, v:,21-triol-6,2O-dione.

A mixture of 1. g. of the foregoing compound, 4 cc. of pyridine and 4 cc. of acetic anhydride was allowed treated with l g. of acetaldehyde and a few drops of 3 N perchloric acid and the reactionrnixture stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. After diluting with'water the chloroform layer was separated, washed with aqueous saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water, the chloroform was distilled and the residuewas .17a,21 -triol-6,20-dione.

Example -X-V I v-A mixture of 1 g. of A 9 19 nor-pregnatriene l1B,

"16 c,170:,21-tetrol-6,20 -dione, 50 cc. of freshly distilled acetophenoneand 0.5 cc. of 72% perchloric acid was stirred at room temperature for lhour. The resulting mixture was washed with sodiumbicarbonate solution and with Water to neutrality, then it was steam distilled and the product extracted with methylenechlorida The extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate'and 1 ll." evaporated to dryness. Crystallization from acetonehexane gave the 16,17-acetophenonide of A 19- nor-prcgnatriene 115,16ot,17a,21 tctrol 6,20 dione. The preceding compound was esterified with acetic anhydride in pyridine, by following the method described in Example X to produce the corresponding 2l-monoacetate.

Example XVI In accordance with the method described in Example XII, the 2l-propionate of 16a,17a-isopropylidenedioxy- A 19 nor pregna-triene 115,21 diol 6,26- dione. and the 21-acetate of 16,17-acetophenonide or" A 19 nor-pregnatriene 11/3,16a,17a,21 tetrol- 6,20-dione were converted respectively into the propionate of 160:,17oc isopropylidenedioxy ALMUO) 19 norpregnatrien-21-ol-6,l1,21-trione and the ZI-acetate of the 16,17-acetophenonide of A -19-nor-pregnatriene- 16cc, 17oc,2l-t1iOl-6,1 1,20-trione.

Example XVII To a solution of 2 g. of A -19-nor-pregnatrien- 17a-ol-6,20-dione in 50 cc. of anhydrous benzene there werev added 400 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 5 cc. of acetic anhydride and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature, poured into ice and water, and the resulting mixture stirred to effect hydrolysis of the excess anhydride. The benzene layer was separated and washed with 10% sodium carbonate solution and water. Drying, evaporation and crystallization of the residue from ether-hexane produced the acetate of A -19-nor-pregnatrien-17a-ol-6,2O-dione.

Example XVIII In accordance with the method described in the preceding example but using propiouic, caproic and cyclopentylpropionic anhydrides as esterifying agents, there were obtained the propionate, the caproate, and the cyclopentylpropionate of 11 -l9-nor-pregnatrien-1706-01-6, 2O dione and 16a ethyl A l9 nor-pregnatrien-l7ot-ol-6,20-dione.

Exaiizple XIX A cooled solution of 4 g. of A -l9-nor-pregnatriene-6,20-dione in 30 cc. of tetrahydrofuran and 18 cc. of methanol was treated under continuous stirring with 6 g. of pure calcium oxide, in small portions, and then with 6 g, of iodine. The stirring was continued at room temperature until the solution turned pale yellow. The mixture was poured into ice water containing 18 cc. of acetic acid and 2 g. of sodium thiosulfatc. After stirring for 15 minutes the solution was decanted and the precipitate was collected by filtration, thus giving 21-iodo- A -19-nor-pregnatriene-6,20-dione. The compound was mixed with 80 cc. of acetone and 12 g. of recently fused potassium acetate and the mixture was refluxed for 8 hours, concentrated to a small volume, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate; the extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated until crystallization started. The precipitate was collected and crystallized from ethanolwater, thus yielding the acetate of A -19-nor-pregnatrien-21-ol-6,20-dione. A cold solution of 2 g. of the preceding compound in 50 cc. of methanol was treated with-5 cc. of a 4% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution; the reaction mixture was kept at C. for 1 hour under an atmosphere of nitrogen, neutralized with acetic acid and the methanol was distilled under reduced pressure.

The residue was triturated with water, the solid was 12 natriene-llfi,21-diol-6,20-dione, which was converted into its 2l-monoacetate by esterification with acetic anhydride in pyridine solution.

Example XX The precedingexarnple was repeated but using 16amethyl A 19 nor-pregnatriene 6,20 dioneas starting material, thus yielding successively: 21-iodo-16otmethyl A 19 nor-pregnatriene 6,20 dione, the acetate of l6a-methyl-A -l9-nor-pregnatrien-2lo1 6,20 dione, a methyl A 19'- nor'pregnatrien 21 ol 6,20 dione, 16o; methyl A 19 norpregnatricne 115,21 diol 6,20 dione and the ZI-acetate of 16ot-rnethyl-A -19-nor-pregnatrienc- 1 lB,2l-dio1-6,20-dione.

We claim:

1. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy and an acyloxy radical of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, tit-methyl, fi-methyl, a-hydroxy and tit-acyloxy; R and R together represent the grouping wherein A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl radical'and B is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, aryl and aralkyl containing up to eight carbon atoms.

2. M -19-nor-pregnatriene-6,2O-dionc.

3. A -19-nor-pregnatriene-l7u-ol6,20-dione.

4. l6ot-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnatriene-6,2O-dionc.

5. 16ot-methyl-A -19-n0r-pregnatriene-17a-ol-6,20- dione.

6. The acetate of 16u-methyl-A -l9-nor-pregnatriene-l7ot-ol-6,20-dione.

7. 16a,17u-isopropylidenedioxy-A -l9-nor pregnatriene-6,20-dione.

8. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, and an acyloxy radical of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, tit-methyl, B-methyl, a-hydroxy and u-acyloxy; R and R together represent the grouping --o /A o --o B wherein A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen anda lower alkyl radical and His selected from .the

group consisting of lower alkyl, aryl and aralkyl containing up to eight carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an acyl radical of less than 12 carbon atoms and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, p-hydroxy and keto.

9. A -19-nor-pregnatriene-17a,21-diol-6,20-dione.

10. A -19-nor-pregnatriene-11fl,17a,21-tri01-6,20- dione.

11. A -19-nor-pregnatriene-170;,21 diol 6,11,20- trione.

12. 16a-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnatriene 11,8,1705, 21-trio1-6,20-dione.

13. 16a,17a-isopropylidenedioxy-A -pregnatriene- 1 1p,17a,21-trio1-6,20-dione.

14. A -19-nor-pregnatrien-21-o1-6,20-dione.

'15. A -19-nor-pregnatriene-11B,21-dio1-6,20-dione.

16. l6a-methyl-A -19-nor-pregnatriene-21-ol-6,20- dione.

j 17. 16a-methy1-A -19-nor-pregnatriene 11,8,21- dio1-6,20-dione.

No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 